NWA 12269 Martian Meteorite. Martian (shergottite). Northwest Africa. Found: 2018. ...

Description

NWA 12269 Martian Meteorite
Martian (shergottite)
Northwest Africa
Found: 2018

NWA 12269 is classified as a Martian meteorite of the rare shergottite variety. Classified by renowned scientist Dr. Anthony Irving of the University of Washington and others, this meteorite exhibits a finely grained and intersertal texture. Discovered in 2018, the product of Northwest Africa had a total known weight of 1,679 grams. This superb example weighing 1,672 grams, is not surprisingly the main mass of NWA 12269 and, of course, represents a piece of Mars! In this case, the Red Planet has provided a rock that has a somewhat olive-green coloration exposed beneath a substantial black fusion crust covering much of the exterior of the blocky wedge-shaped example. The fusion crust displays a network of subtle fracturing similar to craquelure in some old works of art, which adds visual contrast to the otherwise dark black "skin" of the rock from Outer Space. Other sections of this sizable meteorite show shallow craters, and various linear-filled interstices are visible, along with the notch where the test sample was removed. This meteorite is a highly textural and significant example of the Red Planet.
Measurements: 5.47 x 4.41 x 3.41 inches (13.89 x 11.20 x 8.66 cm), weighs 1,671.5 grams

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